NBA draft prospects can sometimes boost stock in NCAA tournament

March 23, 2014

Duke forward Jabari Parker (1) tries to explain his performance in what may have been his final game as a Blue Devil as Duke was upset by Mercer, 78-71, in their opening game of the NCAA tournament at the PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C., Friday. / Chuck Liddy/Raleigh News & Observer

Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

Take Duke freshman forward Jabari Parker. He looked nothing like a surefire franchise player in the Blue Devils’ first-round exit against little-known Mercer.

Parker was 4-for-14 from the field in scoring 14 points — a nonfactor. He now has a decision to make. He was teary-eyed afterward, telling reporters: “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

But his performance will have no bearing on his stock. He will be a top-three pick whenever he decides to leave Duke.

But mid-major prospects can get a boost. Look at Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry.

When he was a sophomore at Davidson, there were questions about whether he just feasted on inferior competition. But when he carried Davidson to within seconds of a Final Four berth in 2008, he eased some of those doubts. He proved that he could be the best player on the floor over the period of four games — not just some fluky player who might get hot in one game. The Warriors used the seventh pick on Curry in the 2009 draft.

■ TOP REGION: San Antonio is the best NCAA tournament region when it comes to pro prospects with nearly every team possessing a prospect.

The most well-known is Creighton senior forward Doug McDermott, who could be a possibility for the Pistons if they wind up with the eighth pick in the draft. UCLA sophomore small forward Kyle Anderson possesses point guard skills. A potential dark horse first-rounder is Louisiana-Lafayette junior point guard Elfrid Payton.